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Monday, December 31, 2012

The end of the year reflections are upon me. It's been quite an interesting year full of very low Lows and middling Highs. Productive and full of promise; exasperating and exhilarating. Lots of introspection during the Lows as is more than normal in any human's life. That introspection begets revelation which begets resolution to be better.

For the last few years I've tried to boil my resolutions down to a six-word sentence, inspired by the Six Word Story idea. Last year I didn't have a 'real' resolution except to be a more consistent writer. The blog stats have certainly reflected that. In 2012 I posted as much as the previous three years combined. I guess that makes me some kind of blogger. Which kind I'm not sure...

As we begin the New Year, on the cusp of another sea-change in terms of mass media, my resolutions for the coming year aren't easily boiled down.

One thing, as far as my work life goes, is to be as open as I can be. To do what I do best and be the best at those things that I do. Sounds convoluted but it's honest. As resolutions go, it also doesn't sound like much but believe me it's a lot. As long as I get 100% from everyone around me at work, I will give 100% back. We're all in it together.

In terms of writing I will be at least as consistent as in 2012. Submissions will happen, too. I won't be afraid to send the work out because I will know that it's better than it was before and that it's good enough to be consumed by the public. You can read from this that the novel will go out again sooner than later and that short stories are destined to be picked up somewhere. Watch this space.

Finally, personally, I am going to shed myself of these bad habits that have reared up again. They're the result of terrible changes wrought on me early in the year and my weakness in combatting them. Exercise will be part of my daily life again, and eating less. These are simple things that made me feel a lot better and require minimal actual effort but it's so easy to let them slip by. No more. I need to feel better physically to reflect the determination I feel mentally.

Can I sum this up in six words? I don't think I have to. I know what I need to do and how it needs to be done.

And in our hearts we all know the same thing. As a society we do the same things, think the same thoughts. As individuals we make choices to be one thing or another, do one thing or another and we have to live with those choices.

I wish you a Happy New Year and the ability to make the right choices for you.

And thank you all for your support and reading the blog. I hope to hear from more of you in the coming year.